Why did Israel reject Jesus as their king?
In unbelief, Israel refused to reckon the sin problem and their need for a redeeming Savior before a ruling king. They expected a conquering hero on a white steed, but Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, even a young one, which blew their minds. Therefore they rejected and crucified Him, but not all; the elect believed.
Les explains that Israel wanted the King and the Kingdom, but they did not get what they were seeking. The reason was unbelief: they would not reckon that they first had to deal with the sin problem. They needed a redeeming Savior, not just a ruling king, and that is why they did not want Him. Les gives the illustration of the ancient expectation of a conquering hero riding in on a big white steed, prancing like a show horse. Instead, Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, and not even a grown one, which blew their minds, because no king comes in on a donkey. So they rejected Him and crucified Him, but not all. The election obtained what Israel sought, and the elect are believers. Some Jews were elected and came to salvation, becoming part of the Body of Christ with the rest, but the rest were blinded. Les notes that the nation of Israel remains largely spiritually blind, some practicing religion, some orthodox, some secular.